A rent repayment order can make a landlord pay back up to 12 months' rent for certain offences. It is separate from a disrepair claim. Here is how it works and who to ask.
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In short
A rent repayment order, an RRO, is a tribunal order making a landlord pay back up to 12 months' rent, because they broke the law in set ways. It differs from a disrepair claim, and it is not something we handle. But it is worth knowing about, and we can still help where your home also sits in disrepair. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
When a rent repayment order can apply
A tenant can ask the First-tier Tribunal for an RRO where the landlord did things like:
- Let a home that needed a licence, without one
- Illegally evicted or harassed a tenant
- Ignored a council improvement notice or prohibition order
How to apply
You apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), separate from any disrepair claim. Shelter on 0808 800 4444 and Citizens Advice can guide you. Some housing solicitors take these cases too.
How this links to disrepair
A council improvement notice for serious disrepair, ignored by the landlord, can support both an RRO and a disrepair claim. See environmental health notice, what happens now.
How we can help
We help with the disrepair side. A home damp, cold, leaking or unsafe, ignored by the landlord? Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim
Sources
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 25 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only, not a promise; every case is different.
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